Slade (The Protectors #6)

“Both of you shut the fuck up,” Sloan warned before pulling out his phone. “I have video of the club. You won’t be alone. A Warrior will have you in sight at all times.” He messed with his phone before handing it to her.

Well, there it was: her first big test. Holding the phone, she did everything in her power to stop her hands from shaking. She watched the video that was poorly done, but she could see enough to know she was in big trouble. The video scanned the club clumsily as if the person taking it was trying his best to hide the fact. Women were stationed throughout the dark club on round tables with stripper poles. Men sat around each pole staring up at the women, who surprisingly were in different modes of dress. Jill didn’t realize the breath she held until it eased out in a relieved hiss at seeing none of the women were completely naked. The video cut off abruptly. Raising her eyes from the phone, she noticed everyone was staring at her. Handing the phone back to Sloan, she could only nod.

“So does that mean yes?” Sloan took the phone, maintaining eye contact.

Before she could answer, she noticed Tessa had come up to their circle. “Have you ever used a stripper pole?”

Jill shook her head. “No.”

“As much as I hate to admit that Slade is right, but he is right.” Jax crossed his arms. “She’s not ready for this. I say find another way.”

“How do you know they have stripper poles?” Jared frowned at Tessa, everything else forgotten in his mind.

“Everybody knows about the Master’s Club.” Tessa frowned back.

Jill’s gaze shot to Jax, who stood staring at her with a cocky smirk. He expected her to back away from this mission and she’d be damned if she’d prove the asshole right. She looked back at Sloan. “When do I go?”

Slade hissed behind her, not happy with her choice. “Jill, these are professionals. You can’t just go in there and wing it.”

“I’ll help her,” Tessa replied, keeping her eyes averted from Jared.

Jared stepped into the middle of the group. “Excuse me.” He held out his hand before anyone else could speak. “What the fuck do you know about strippers and poles?”

“We have a pole at the bar,” Tessa said without thinking; even Jill’s eyes popped open. Tessa laughed at all the shocked looks on everyone’s face. “What?”

“What?” Jared growled, stalking toward her. “I hope for everyone’s safety in that bar, you have not used that pole.”

“Of course I have.” Tessa tilted her head staring at him.

Before Jared could explode, Nicole walked up to stand next to Tessa. “So have I. What’s the big deal?”

“What’s the big deal?” Jared’s laugh was not humorous at all. He looked toward Damon. “You going to help me out here, bro, or just glare them to death.”

Jill watched the scene and smiled when Nicole winked at her. Her smile faded when she glanced up at Slade who frowned down at her with a sneer. Actually, all the Warriors were frowning and growling, even Sloan.

“Nicole, you better make that statement a little clearer before I go to that bar and beat the hell out of every male there,” Damon’s deep voice boomed throughout the room.

“What’s the big deal?” Pam joined the group.

Duncan, who rarely said anything, snapped his head toward his mate. “Don’t even say it.”

“Say what?” Pam’s head snapped toward him. “That I’ve used the stripper pole? Well, I hate to disappoint ya, but I’ve used a stripper pole, but not the one at Tessa’s work.”

A deafening roar erupted in the room making Jill jump closer to Slade. Sloan actually stepped in front of Duncan. “Step down, Duncan.”

“If shit gets real and Warriors go wild, my ass is out the door,” Steve whispered to Adam, who was looking at Angelina with a questioning look. When Angelina smiled and nodded, Steve took a step back from Adam. “Ah, shit.”

Caroline laughed loudly along with Lana. Sid, who was grinning at what was going on concerning his brothers now dropped his grin, his fangs growing as he stared at Lana. “There’s going to be a lot of dead men in the Cincinnati area.” Sid’s tone was deadly.

“Oh, my God, this is classic,” Caroline laughed. “Tame down that testosterone, boys, before you blow the place up.”

“Caroline,” Sloan warned, shaking his head at her, but his eyes were on his Warriors who were about to go berserk with dominant force.

When the growls grew even louder, Caroline stepped into the middle of the angry crowd of Warriors. “Guys, seriously, get a grip. Do none of you remember the stripper pole craze?” When none of them answered, she sighed with a roll of her eyes. “It’s a great way to get in shape. Women everywhere were learning the art of pole dancing to either get in shape or to seduce their man.”

Jill grinned when Caroline looked at her then winked with a smug look.

“You know, if I was one of these women, I’d be pissed,” Caroline continued, then glared at Sid. “Actually, I am pissed because you, the person who is supposed to keep my sister happy in all things, just accused her of being a stripper.”